Railway-track-tying device



Feb. 18, 1930.

J. G. MUELLER RAILWAY TRACK TYING DEVICE Filed Sept. '27. 1928 JJH/v L}MuELLE5,

Patented Feb. 18, 1 930 TENroFFi" JOHN amunmnn, OF DAYTON, 031d-RAILWAYTRAGK-TYING DEVICE Application filed September 27, 1928 SerialNo. 308,695.

This invention relates to railway track tying devices for clamping andgripping the is applicable to standard track rails of va- 1'] one sizeswhich will have means for permitting the taking up of any wear of theparts, thus adding to the life thereof; and which may be used instead ofany track brace now on the market, such as the old fashioned tie rod,antirail spreader, tilter and creeper,

To secure the foregoing results I utilize a single block for engagingthe bottom of the base of the rail and two locking members adapted toengage such block and the rail base flange with means for adjusting themembers to various sizes of rails.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. I is a view showing my inventionapplied to a railway track the rails being in section and the tracktying device in elevation; Fig.2 is a sectional view of my track'tyingdevice applied to a rail; and Fig. ;3 is an-elevation of one of thelocking members with the tie rod in section. y I In the drawings theinvention is illustrated as applicable tostandard track rails of varioussizes but it will readily be understood that it may be made applicableto the smallest rails used on any tracks in existence.

Referring to the drawings, and, more particularly Fig. 1, I have shown asection of the usual railway track arrangement comprising parallel railsl and 2. A tie bar or rod 3 extends beneath the track from a pointbeyond the outer edge of one rail to a point heyond the outer edge ofthe other rail,.and is screw-threaded at either end, as shown at i, topermit of adjusting, clamping and locking members 5 on both sides of thebase flange ofeach rail.

Coacting with the locking members 5 is an angular shaped block 6 havingan upper flat surface 7 adapted to contact with the bottom of the railbase when clamped in position. The block 6 is provided with a circularopening 8 adapted to receive the tie rod 3.

The locking members 5 and block 6 are each provided with cam surfaces 9and 10, respectively, which are brought into engagement one with theother when the device is applied to a rail, the locking members forcingthe block against the base of the rail by reason of the sliding relationof the inclined surfaces. 7 To eifect the sliding of the parts in orderto cause them to grip the railthe locking members 5 are provided withelongated openings 11 to receive the tie rod 3, thereby providing for upand down movement of the locking members with respect to the tie rod.

Each locking member 5 has a hook-like portion having an under inclinedsurface 12 adapted to grip the upper portion of the rail base flange,producing what may be termed a taper-grip. An opening or recess 13.formed between the under inclined surface 12 and the upper; surface l8of the lower portion of the member 5 is of such size as to receive awide variety of sizes of rail base flanges and always leave a spacebetween the outer edge M of the rail base flange and the vertical wall15 of the recess 13. By means of this construction the device may beusedon a pound rail and a 136 pound rail with perfect satisfaction andany wear of the parts may be taken up by advancing the locking members 5on the rail, due to the space'that is left between the outer edge of therail base flange and the vertical wall'of the recess even when thedevice is applied to the smallest sized rails.

It will readily be apparent that the device to withstand the strainsandstresses and pro-. vide the necessary gripping action must be verystrong. To-that end I haveprovided the members 5 with strengthening ribs16 and 17 on the upper surface and 18. on the lower surface, the lattercoacting with a lock washer 19 which is held in place by a lock nut 20.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 2 that the rail base isnotonlygripped bythe mem- I e bers 5 buttha-t these members in conjunctionwith the block 6 clamp therail base so that 7 there is no chance of anymovement of the rail up or down or sidewise. Thus when a 5 railway trackissuitably. equipped with a sufficient number of my devices there willbe no 7 spreading'of the rails which according to all commisi'sonersreports within the last ten 7 7 years has been the largest factor in allthe 10 great railroad catastrophies, andsespeeially i is thistruewhere'a'road has a'number of curves, some of which are verysharp and; 7

very difficult and expensive to properly maintain.

Thus will be, seen that the sliding relame Of t e b l ck a m e 5? W tspect to one another and of the members 5'wi-th' respect tothe rail makethe device as a whole" adaptable V to rails of. different 6? weights. Inother words, I have provided a track tying device that is universal inthat the same device maybe applied to rails of difijerent weights anddifferent types for sty'les .f*For iiista1 1ce, the'same device may 72"5 1 app iedw thequal success a traCkCQIP structed' of5 '5p'ound. railsor- 136 pound rails,

' 0I 0 I1 a tracl'rconstructed' of rails ofthe' style calledfA S; C.Egor R. Agtype A or A fifiti} type B, v V

A furt r dvantage o y device is h 7 complete interchangeabilityof'theparts in- .a'smuch as; any member 5 may be placed on either" side ot theblockjG, These features, together with thefa'ctthat' the device. com

3'5Yprises so, few parts, make for g eate o y as well asjconvenience;

The efi'ectfof the-relation ofthe block 6; andf k am ben 5v e asse l onthe tie rod; and forced: into engagement '4 'with,'thefr'ail sis toclamp the same with a i eike gr n; her y ty g the a ls. fir y" ga n tforward or backward 1' id' w i "movement andproviding an absolutely safetrack.

Y disposed on, the tie 'rodjand adapted to en- "gage'the' bottom of therail base, locking members also 1 disposed onv the tierod and 1adaptedto; engage the topof the rail base flange nd coac't with theblock to clamp the V '60 rail with'a VjlCQi-likfi grip, means foradjusting the v loclzing members and. block and maintaining them ingripping position and means 7 tofalljowtor furtheradjustment in case ofear ofthem' sa i Q'J'Ina' ral'lway-tracktying device, the com I pl f qtructi' nl bination with a tie rod, of a block disposed, on the tie rodand adapted to grip'the base of the rail, andlocking members alsodisposed on the tie rod and each having an inclined surface adapted togrip the upper portion ofthe rail base flange in sucha'mannerastoleave aspace between the outer edge of the rail-base flange and'thelockingmemher to provide forfurther adjustment of the locking member .ifncaseof any wearof the parts.

posed on the tie rod, each locking member having; aninclinedasurfaceaadaptedto grip,

the upper portions of theirail ibase flange, and means for adjusting theparts to gripping position, each'lockingmember havinga cutaway portionto provide asnace between- 3. a'i'railwa'y track tying device, thecombination with a tie rod, of a block dis- 7 posedon the tie rod andadapted to grip the base of therail, locking members also dis the outeredge of thei rail base flange and thelocking member so that the lockingmember maybe advanced on the'railin case ofany wear. 7

4; In a railway track tying device; the V I combination with-a tie rod,of a block disposed on the tie rod, and locking members also disposed onthe tie rod on either sideot said block, theupper surface of the'blockadapted-'to grip thev bottom of; the rail and the sides being inclinedto form camsurfaces;-

each of-said locking members-having a cam surface adapted' to coact withthe adjacent p cam surface of said block and having a hook-- like memberwith an inclined surface adapted to grip the top of the rail baseflange, and means for adj ustingto and maintaining in grippingpositionthe locking members and block, and means to allow tor further adjustment in case ofwear of'the parts. 3 I 15.111 a railway track tyingdevice, the

combinationwit'h atie rod, of a block disposedon the tie rod, andlocking members also disposed on-thetie rod on' either side: of said"block, the upper surface of the block adapted; to. grip the bottom ofthe rail and the sides be-ing inclined to form 'cam surfaces, each ofsaid locking "mem-' bers haVing acam surface adapted to coact I with theadjacent am surface of said block inclined vunder surface adaptedgto;grip the top of the rail-base flange, and-each locking member ffi lrtherhaving a cut-away portion toprovide-a space between the outer edge ofthe rail! base flange and the locking member so that the locking membermay be further adjustedin case of wear.

"6', In .alrailway: track tying device, the combination with; a tie rod,of a block dis posed onth'e tie rod, locking members "also disposedon-the tie rod on either side of said;

block, the upper surface oi the block being? adapted to gripthe bottomof the rail and the.

and-also having a hook-like i'nemberwith an:

sides thereof being inclined to form cam surfaces, each of said lockingmembers having a cam surface adapted to coact with the adj acent camsurface of said block and also having a hook-like member with aninclined under surface adapted to grip the top of the rail base flange,and means for adjusting to and maintaining in gripping position thelocking members and block, and means to allow for further adjustment incase of wear of the parts.

7. In a railway track tying device, a locking member having a verticallyelongated opening, a hook-like portion forming a recess, the lowersurface of the hook portion being inclined, a cam surface extending fromthe lower portion of said recess to the bottom of the locking member,and a rib on the bottom of the member at the outer edge thereof.

8. In a railway track tying device, the combination with a tie rod, of ablock having inclined surfaces and an opening extending therethrough toreceive the tie rod, the upper surface of said block being adapted togrip the bottom of a rail, locking members each having a verticallyelongated openingto receive the tie rod and an inclined surface adaptedto coact with one of the inclined surfaces of said block, each lockingmember also having a hook-like portion, the lower surface of which isinclined to grip the upper portion of the rail base flange in such amanner as to leave a space between the outer edge of the rail baseflange and the locking member to provide fortaking up any wear of theparts.

9. In a railway track tying device, the combination with a tie rod, of ablock having inclined surfaces and an opening extending therethrough toreceive the tie rod, the upper surface of said block being adapted togrip the bottom of a rail, locking members each having a verticallyelongated opening to receive the tie rod and an inclined surface adaptedto coact with one of the inclined surfaces of said block, each lockingmember also having a hook-like portion, the lower surface of which isinclined to grip the upper portion of the rail base flange in such amanner as to leave a space between the outer edge of the rail baseflange and the locking member to provide for taking up any wear of theparts, reinforcing ribs on said locking member, a lock washer, the lowerportion of which engages one of the reinforcing ribs, and a lock nut foreach locking member.

10. In a railway track tying device, the combination with a tie rod, ofa plurality of sets of locking members disposed on the opposite sides oftwo opposite rails, a block coacting with each set of locking members,and means for adjusting the members and block with respect to the railsto grip them I on the top and bottom of the base flanges thereof, saidlocking members each having

